Guide To Free Ringtones Using Only iTunes (PC)

[Germansuplex]

So, with the ability to edit older posts gone, I figure I'll just repost it with the updated instructions:


1. You will need iTunes version 7.1.5 and the most recent iPhone firmware, version 1.1.2. Update at your own discretion.
2. Make sure that in Preferences -> Advanced -> Importing, you have AAC set as the filetype. 128kbps is perfect, any higher quality probably won't make a difference on the iPhone's speaker.
3. Find any non-protected song in iTunes you want to use for the ringtone.
4. To choose what section of the file you want to use as the ringtone, right-click on the song and select Get Info -> Options -> Start/Stop times to edit the file's to the start/stop times of your choice. I use 30 second clips or less, though you could probably use longer clips. I have yet to try it.
5. Right-click on the track you edited and choose "Convert Selection To AAC". A new file will be created and it will be the portion of the original file you specified. This will end up as your ringtone.
6. Right-click on the original song file and clear the start/end times by unticking the checkboxes next to the times so they'll go back to playing their normal times. If you sync your iPod and go to listen to a song and it cuts out after 30 seconds, you most likely forgot to reset the start/stop times!
7. Right-click on the new clip you made (it should appear directly under the original song and have the length that you created, i.e. 30 seconds) and choose "Show in Windows Explorer". This opens a browser window with the new clip you created. Minimize the window.
8. Now, right-click on the file in iTunes and choose "Remove" then "Keep File". You want to delete it from the library, but keep it on your computer.
9. Bring up the browser window with the new file again, and rename the extension of the file from ".m4a" to ".m4r", i.e. "ringtone.m4a" to "ringtone.m4r". If you don't have extensions showing in windows, you will have to go to tools -> folder options -> view -> and untick the "Hide extensions for known file types box". This will show you the extensions of files so you can rename it.
10. Double-click on the file and it will be added to the ringtones menu in iTunes. Click on the ringtone graphic on the left side of iTunes and you should see the tone in the list. Connect your iPhone and sync any or all ringtones.

Of note, once you click on the .m4r file and it to ringtones, iTunes will move the file to a ringtones folder in your iTunes music library if you have iTunes set to organize your music library.

As I mentioned, you can always use a third-party audio editing tool to add fade-in or fade-out effects to your ringtones to make them sound nicer.

[lpdude]

did you do this and it worked ok?

[Germansuplex]

Yeah, I've done it and it works perfectly.

The iPhone now sorts the pre-installed and custom ringtones into separate categories as well.

[Helevitia]

It works! Thanks again to Germansuplex and choitoy57 for the help. Cheers!

[monkeyking84]

How did you get iTunes 7.5.1? I downloaded just today, and it's still 7.5.0.20. Can't get my ringtones to sync...

[Helevitia]

Originally Posted by monkeyking84

How did you get iTunes 7.5.1? I downloaded just today, and it's still 7.5.0.20. Can't get my ringtones to sync...

I think that is 7.5.1. I have the same version you have and it works fine for me.

One last thing I had to do to get it to work was uncheck the ringtones, sync, then recheck ringtones and sync again. After that, it shows up under ringtones before the rest of the ringtones under a new category called "custom". Hope this helps.

[lpdude]

Why isn't there an update for the new firmware in itunes yet? dont they usually put it on itunes immediately?

[Helevitia]

Originally Posted by lpdude

Why isn't there an update for the new firmware in itunes yet? dont they usually put it on itunes immediately?

Maybe they will never release it for US as I think it mostly pertains to European customers? *shrugs*

[lpdude]

But dont you need this upgrade in order to get the custom ringtones? Along with the newest version of iTunes?

[Helevitia]

Originally Posted by lpdude

But dont you need this upgrade in order to get the custom ringtones? Along with the newest version of iTunes?

Yes. You need to find the file and download it. I got mine here.

You then need to shift+restore(hold down the shift key while clicking "restore" in iTunes). Point to the file you downloaded, follow instructions.

[lpdude]

Thanks. Is the custom ringtone thing pretty much the only good update? besides the international thing, which i dont really care about.

[Helevitia]

Pretty much. I think there are some very minor other things, but nothing that is really that big of a deal.

[podio]

If you have a Mac, itoner works too, its free for 30 days, then $15, if for some reason this gets patched by apple.

[Prozcrito]

I have done this and it works but I can't seem to assign custom ringtones to specific people. When a specific person i've assigned a custom ringtone to calls, my phone does not play the custom ringtone. I've tried assigning a ringtone that came with the phone to a specific person and it works. How come custom ringtones don't assign to people?

Also anyone know of a good free ringtone editor?

Thanks in advance!

[Helevitia]

Hmmm, just tested it out and mine works. I can select the custom ringtone and then call my cell number and it rings with the new custom ringtone.

An editor that I like to use is Audacity. The price is right, free.